Portrait of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg 1526

Lucas Cranach the Elder painted this portrait of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg using oil paint, a technique refined in the Renaissance, on a wood panel. Look closely at the Cardinal’s clothing, the luxurious fabric and elaborate rings. This wasn't just about showing wealth; it was about power, specifically Papal power. Textiles like this were extremely expensive, requiring skilled labor to weave the intricate patterns and rare dyes to achieve the vibrant colors. This is also true of the rings, which speak to mining, lapidary, and goldsmithing trades. The portrait is not only of a man, but of an industry. Cranach's technique is precise, almost like printmaking. Indeed, he ran a very large workshop that was very successful, an early capitalist enterprise. The painting shows a tension between the unique skill of the artist and the more systematized production that was becoming increasingly common at this time. By emphasizing the labor and materials behind the Cardinal's image, we see how art, craft, and social status were deeply intertwined.